Leg-elevator-supporting means for washing machines



LEG ELEVATOR SUPPORTING MEANS FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed Feb. l1

Patented Aug. as, 1924, 1,506,441 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

NEVVENS N. NUNN, OF MAPLEVTOOD, MISSOURI.

LEG-ELEVATOR-SUPPORTING MEANS FOR, WASHING MACHINES.

Application filed February 11, 1923..

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Nnvvmrs N. NUNN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Maplewood, St. Louis County, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Leg-Elevator-Supporting Means for Viashing Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable. others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to. the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

This invention relates to leg elevator supporting means for heavy pieces of furniture, and particularly to supporting means for washing machines.

The objects of the invention are: To provide auxiliary supporting means for wash ing machines and the like, which means are provided with rollers or similar antifriction means and adapted to normally occupy a raised or inoperative position, and which means, when desired, can be operated to bring said rollers into a supporting contact with the ground and elevate the legs of the washing machine so that the latter canbe easily and readily moved about.

Further objects of the invention are to pivotally mount 9. frame on the supporting standards of a washing machine or the like, and to provide suitable antifriction means on said frame, which means are normally held elevated so that the standards of the machine are in supporting contact with the floor, and which antifriction means, when said frame is operated. are moved into a supporting position on the floor.

Still further objects of the invention are to provide simple and efficient means for locking said antifriction means in a supporting position.

Other objects of the invention will appear or be pointed out in the specification, in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical cross section taken through my improved leg elevator locking mechanism.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross section of a washing machine equipped with my improved leg elevator support.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the supporting standards of the machine and the means utilized in supporting said machine upon the casters Serial No. 444,155.

Referring by numerals to the accompanymg drawings, 1 designates the casing of the washing machine having legs or standards 2, end walls 3, side walls 4, and top frame 5. The washing machine is arranged to be closed by a removable cover 6 designed to rest on top frame 5. Depending from the top frame 5 and within casing 1 are brackets 7 arranged in pairs on each side of said casing. Horizontally projecting pins 8 which are fixed to the upper ends of arms 9 rest in brackets 7 and constitute pivotal supports for said arms. The lower ends of the arms 9 are pivotally connected to upwardly bent ends 10 of transverse horizontal members 11. These members 11 are connected together by longitudinal members 12 having upwardly curved ends 13 which are reinforced by transverse members 14. Longitudinal members 12, transverse members 11, and reinforcing members 13 constitute a framework pivotally suspended by arms 9 and adapted to support a tub 15, the ends of which are rounded. Tub 15 is located to one side of easing 1 and the opposite side of the tub is provided with auxiliary arms 9 which are pivotally suspended from brackets 7 The lower ends of these arms are pivotally connected to angles 10 carried by transverse members 11.

Pivotally connected to each pair of legs or supporting standards 2 and the proper distance above the floor are the outer ends of arms 54. the inner ends of which are slotted and receive a pin or rivet 55, one end of which is carried by an angle 56. The inner ends ofarms 54 are connected to frame 23 by means of toggle oint comprising links 57 and 58 hinged together by pin 59. The upper end of link 57 is pivoted to frame 23 and the lower end of link 58 is connected to pin 55. The upper end of link 58 is provided with a lateral project-ion 58 which is arranged to occupy a position in a notch 57" in link 57. Suitable casters 59 are carried by each arm 54 and are located adjacent to each leg 2.

When the washing machine is in operation, the legs or standards 2 of said machine rest on the floor, as shown in Figure 2, and provide a stationary support which maintains the washing machine in a rigid position and eliminates vibration and noise. When it is desired to move the machine, arms 54 are moved downwardly, as shown in full lines in Figure 3, by means of pressure applied to angle 56, preferably by the operators foot. This downward movement of arms 54 first positions casters on the floor, then, using said casters as a fulcrum, the outer ends of arms 54 which are pivotally connected to legs 2 are raised, thereby elevating the washing machine from the floor so that it is no longer supported on its legs but is supported on casters 59 which permit it to be easily and readily moved about. Arms 54 are locked in their downward position by hinged links 57 and 58 which assume positions shown in full lines, Figure 3, so that the pivotal joint between said links I occupies a position in vertical plane with the pivotal connections of link 57 and frame 23 and link 58 and pin 55, so that arms 54, together with said links, constitute a rigid frame for said casters, said frame being fixed to the washing machine at the points of attachment of the outer ends of arms 54 to legs 2 and the connections of upper ends of links 57 to'frame 23.

When it is desired to place the washing machine stationarily on the floor, the toggle joint of links 57 and 58 is broken by applying force to said joint on the opposite side to that which is provided with notch 57 and projection 58 thereby raising the inner ends of arms 54 and casters 59and permit-- ting the legs of the washing machine to move downwardly to resume their position on the floor. Projection 58 in cooperation with notch 57 prevents the accidental mov ing of links 57 and 58.

The arms 54 mounted between each pair of standards 2 together with casters 59 supported thereon and toggle links 57 and 58 connecting each pair of arms 54 with frame 23, provide means b which the machine can be moved about with ease and which means are adapted to position the legs of the machine on the floor so that when the machine is in operation it will be provided with a rigid and stationary support, consequently reducing vibration and prolonging the life of the machine.

The tub 15 rests on members 11', 12 and 14 and does not require any driving connections or supporting means to be integrally attached to it so that any possibility of leakage or distortion of the tub due to the strain and wear to which such connections are generally subjected is prevented.

Obviously various changes and arrangement of parts in my improved washing machine can be made and'substituted for those described and shown, without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

i I claim: I

1; The combination with supporting standards of a washing machine, of arms arranged in pairs each pair being arranged substantially parallel with its cooperating pair of standards to which the outer ends of said pair of arms are pivotally connected, a pin pivotally interengaging the inner ends of each pair of arms, vertically disposed toggle links pivotally supported at one end by the frame of the machine and pivotally connected at itslower end to said pair of arms, casters mounted on said arms adjacent to their outer ends, and a pedal secured to said pin for actuating said arms.

2. In a device of the class described, the" combination with a supporting frame, of

arms arranged in pairs and disposed parallel to each other, the outer ends of each pair of arms being pivotally connected to the respective standards of the frame, a pin pivated member secured to each pair of arms for actuating the same.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a frame including a pair ofsupporting standards, of a pair of arms extending between said standards and havi ng their outer ends pivotally mounted thereon, a pin pivotally interengaging the inner ends of said arms, casters carried by said arms adjacent to the outer ends thereof and adapted to be moved into a supporting position. when said arms are operated in one direction, a pair of hinged links disposed in vertical plane above the interengaged ends of said arms and having their outer endspivotally connected to said pin and said frame, respectively, a projection on one of said links for engaging the opposite link and limiting the movement of said links in one direction, and a member for actuating said arms.

4 In a device of the class described, the combination with the supporting standards, of a pair of armspivotally connectedtogether and having their outer ends pivotally mounted on said standards, a pair of jointed links pivotally connected to the interengaged ends of said arms and said supporting standards, and antifriction means carried by said. arms and adapted to be moved into a sur porting position on the floor when said arms are operated.

5. Ina device of the class described, the combination with the supporting standards, of a pair of arms pivotally connected together and having their outer ends pivotally mounted on said standards, antifriction means carried by said arms and. adapted to be moved into a supporting position on the floor'when said arms are actuated, and a pedal mounted on the interengaged ends of said arms for actuating the same.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination With the supportin standards, of a pair of arms pivotally connected together and having their outer ends pivotally mounted on said standards, antifriotion means carried by said arms and adapted to 10 he moved into a supporting position on the floor when said arms are operated, and toggle means for locking said. arms in a supporting position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afix my 1 signature this 26th day of January, 1921.

N EVVENS N. NUNN. 

